Bulkhead



Feb. 1, 1927. 1,616,012

J. o. WALSH BULKHEAD Filed Nov. '1926 awuemtoz abhor/mu a Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES O. WALSH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BULKHEAD.

Application filed November 8, 1926.

This invention relates to a bulkhead designed primarily for use in refrigerator cars employed for shipping bunches of bananas. It is an object of the invention to provide a bulkhead adapted to be set up between the side doors of a refrigerator car, thereby to provide clearances between the doors where the person handling the bunches can stand while loading or unloading; said bulkhead also serving to keep the bunches away from the doors where they are likely to become injured.

A further object is to provide a bulkhead. which will materially reduce the shifting of the load and also the damage done to the bananas as a result of rough handling by the railroads.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a refri erator car showing the bulkhead set up between the doors.

Figure 2 is a view in diagram showing the relative positions of the bulkhead and the bunches of bananas within a car.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of the usual refrigerator car having opposed door openings 2. The bulkhead constituting the pres ent invention consists of crossed timbers 3 arranged in superposed pairs, the timbers of each pair being connected at their centers. The timbers are of sufficient length to bridge the door openings and to extend from wall to wall of the car. The ends of the timbers Serial No. 147,016.

are fastened to cleats 4 which, in turn, are nailed or otherwise secured to the sidewalls of the car close to the sides of the door openings. It is to be understood, however, that. if desired, the cleats can be dispensed with and the ends of the timbers secured directly to the walls of the car. I

/Vith the bulkhead in position angular spaces are provided between the door openings as indicated at 5 in Figure 2 and the bananas can then be stored between the bulkhead and the respective ends of the car, the bunches of bananas being placed on end. These bunches have been indicated generally at 18.

Obviously the bulkhead can be removed readily when not in use. lVhen it is in use it acts as an efiicient means for preventing the load from shifting after being properly stored in the car. One or both of the doors can be opened without disturbing the con-- tents of the car and sufficient space will be left between the doors to recieve one or more persons engaged in handling the bananas.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a refrigerator car having opposed door openings, of crossed members interposed between and bridging the openings and constituting a bulkhead.

2. The combination with a refrigerator car having opposed door openings, of crossed members between and bridging the door openings, said members being secured at their ends to the walls of the car and constituting a bulkhead.

3. The combination with a refrigerator car, of crossed timbers secured at their ends to opposed walls of the car, said timbers constituting a bulkhead providing load receiving spaces between the bulkhead and the re spective ends of the car and opposed clearances within the side portions of the bulkhead. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JAMES O. WALSH. 

